Choice Hotels International

Lawsuits target algorithmic hotel pricing
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‘Algorithmic’ Hotel Pricing Draws Legal, Regulatory Scrutiny

Plaintiffs in several class-action lawsuits filed over the past 18 months accused hotel chains and third-party intermediaries, including STR and Amadeus, of conspiring to raise room rates. Some of them alleged anticompetitive effects from the use of sophisticated pricing algorithms. They also argued that the U.S. luxury hotel market is heavily concentrated among a few…

United States Courthouse, Seattle

Lawsuit Alleges Anticompetitive Acts By Business Hotels Using STR Data

Several big lodging chains and a data intermediary face allegations of unreasonable restraint of trade regarding hotel rates, in violation of antitrust regulations. A set of seven plaintiffs, seeking class-action status for untold numbers of others, accused CoStar, which owns Smith Travel Research, along with Accor, Hilton, Hyatt, InterContinental Hotels, Loews Hotels and Marriott, of…

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Dispatch 2

Before the pandemic, American Airlines crowed about adding to its sales force and growing market share in corporate travel. Conditions have changed. Both corporate travel and airline capacity growth are depressed. Improving profitability and paying down debt are top priorities. After cutting back last year on customer benefits including perks and discounts, now AA is saying goodbye to its…

reporters notebook|GBTA reporters notebook|Kurt Knackstedt
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Reporter’s Notebook: GBTA Convention Spotlights Efforts To Digitize And Centralize Payment

“The pandemic has had a huge impact across the payments space,” according to Visa Business Solutions senior director Ryan Grabau. “People want to be more digital, for sustainability or because everyone is working remotely. They want to pay contactless. Organizations want more control in managing expenditures and cash flow.” Grabau spoke here last month during…

contactless payment|
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Growth In Contactless Payment Acceptance Creates Opportunity For Virtual Cards

The sharp increase in U.S. merchant contactless payment capability during the pandemic is increasing the appeal of virtual payment by tackling one of its many challenges. For all their well-documented strengths in terms of controls, fraud prevention, data quality and velocity, compliance, reduction in manual processes, ease of distribution and support for infrequent travelers, virtual…

GBTA Speakers Attempt To Answer Virtual Payment’s Questions
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GBTA Speakers Attempt To Answer Virtual Payment’s Questions

Denver – Despite its headaches, travel management pros who use virtual payment say it’s too beneficial to pass up. Speakers here during the Global Business Travel Association convention last month raised, and attempted to answer, the many questions. Virtual payment is a popular option for travelers without corporate cards. It cuts accounting reconciliation times and…

‘Book Direct’ Perception Challenge Trumps Rate Access Problems
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‘Book Direct’ Perception Challenge Trumps Rate Access Problems

Most of the recently announced members-only rates from major hotel chains are available in managed travel channels, but that’s not the whole point. Business travelers may still think they can get better rates elsewhere. Absent strong policies related to hotel bookings, travel managers need to wield all the communication and engagement tools at their disposal…

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